BEIJING — Alexander “Sasha” Artemev of Highlands Ranch was named to the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team Thursday after Morgan Hamm withdrew because of chronic ankle pain.
Artemev was one of three alternates named when the six-man Olympic team was chosen in June. He was passed over last week when Hamm’s twin, Paul, withdrew because of a shoulder injury, but this time Artemev got the call. The loss of the Hamms means the men’s team has no one with Olympic experience.
“It’s an honor to be on this team, but it’s a shame that it had to happen this way with Morgan getting hurt,” Artemev said. “He’s a tremendous loss to this team. I’m ready to step in because that was my job as an alternate.”
U.S. boxer Russell collapses, out of Olympics.
American bantamweight Gary Russell Jr. will miss the Olympics after collapsing while trying to make weight.
Russell is a two-time national champion and one of the top medal hopes for the U.S. team. He is resting after he collapsed in a last-ditch workout to reach the 119-pound limit. He was removed from the U.S. team’s list of competitors before today’s draw.
50 million reasons.
In response to the Greek basketball team Olympiacos’ signing of American Josh Childress to a three-year, $20 million contract, the Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony said money can talk overseas.
“If somebody offered me $50 million, I got to look into it,” Anthony said.
U.S. men open with victory
TIANJIN, China — Stuart Holden ended the United States’ three- game scoring drought with a goal in the second half, giving the Americans a 1-0 soccer victory over Japan in the opener.
Holden struck a loose ball at the top of the penalty area that goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was able to slow but couldn’t keep from trickling over the line in the 47th minute. Team USA next plays the Netherlands on Sunday.
Nadal’s tough draw.
Roger Federer will play Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov in the first round, while rival Rafael Nadal could face a difficult second-round matchup. Nadal drew Italy’s Potito Starace in the first round. But he would face former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt or Jonas Bjorkman in the second round.
Footnotes.
Frankie Gavin, the world lightweight champion from Britain, has dropped out of the Olympics because he didn’t think he could make his 132-pound weight limit. . . . Alvin Henry, who ran on the Trinidad & Tobago 400-meter relay team in the 2000 Games, was sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a woman in a New York park.
Denver Post staff and wire reports
